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U.S. Endorses ENUM

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the giving-up-the-digits dept.

esarjeant writes "It looks like the the U.S. has endorsed ENUM (also known as E.164.arpa). This means you get a single number for phone and Internet, look for demos at Spring VON (San Jose, April 1-3) and VISIONng will be engaging in US trials. Essentially this means you get a new TLD of e164.arpa with your phone number in front of it." The addresses look pretty long and unwieldy, but supposedly consumer devices will make it easier to use.

6 of 186 comments (clear)

  1. First 10 Digits by mhaisley · · Score: 5, Insightful

    First 10 digit dialing, now this? Seems we could base somthing off of just the number its self, although that seems to be the way the idea is going.

    It looks like were getting ever closer to the point where I have to enter a username and password to make a phone call. Seriously folks, the phone is the simplest computer interface in the world, don't ruin it. I don't want email on my phone, and caller id on my tv, I want tv on my tv and other people on my phone!

    1. Re:First 10 Digits by mccalli · · Score: 5, Insightful
      If you think about it, if someone is trying to get a hold of you why should they have to try several distinct numbers and addresses?

      Because I want them to.

      I answer the home landline nearly 100% of the time. I answer my mobile maybe 70% of the time (depends on location and context). I respond to email at a different frequency to my phone call response. And all that is before we take into account that I have several different email addresses for different purposes, and also four different phone numbers (two home landlines, one mobile, one work).

      I want communication separated out by purpose.

      Cheers,
      Ian

  2. great by Ubi_NL · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So, if I post to usenet, google archives this, and any idiot in the world has my phone number.

    no thanks

    --

    If an experiment works, something has gone wrong.
  3. Opting out? by pongo000 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I choose to have my phone number unlisted and unpublished. Does this mean I will have to disclose my phone number if I'm using an e.164-enabled device? Or will I just have to sit this one out on the sidelines, confident that it will die the quick death so common with flash-in-the-pan technology?

    Personally, I don't want to be ubiquitously accessible. I don't want my internet and telephone services magically tied together. This sounds like a scheme that will benefit vendors, providers, and marketers more than it will benefit consumers.

  4. Practicality check by vinsci · · Score: 5, Insightful
    The addresses look pretty long and unwieldy
    Reminds me of X.400 e-mail addresses, which weren't so successful. The main reason were exactly their long and unwieldy addresses: multi-line e-mail addresses! There too, applications were supposed to hide the complexity, but someone has to type it into the application to begin with.

    I prefer callto:// URI:s any day.

    --

    Trusted Computing FAQ | Free Dawit Isaak!
  5. ENUM in the News by nycview · · Score: 5, Informative


    ENUM in the News

    EFA expresses security concerns over ENUM, SMH, November 27, 2002.

    Enum's potential applications aren't as widespread as promised, New Architect, July 2002.

    Internet Telephone Numbering System (ENUM) offers promise of a single point of contact for all communication devices, ITU Press Release, May 31, 2002.

    Listing Again, The Economist, April 11, 2002.

    Phone number-to-e-mail service raises privacy concerns, Computerworld, October 5, 2001.

    Your Rights Online: A Number For Everything, Slashdot, September 4, 2001.

    One number & and no escape anywhere, The Times, September 3, 2001.